THE sale of Newcastle United appeared to be no further forward today as talk of Middle East interest was played down.

Hopes had been lifted over the weekend with talk that Dubai International Capital – previously linked with Liverpool – were interested in buying United, but this has been played down to the Chronicle by the Mike Ashley camp.

And so too has talk of a local consortium with Middle East backing coming in imminently after Tyneside businessman Barry Moat, who has enjoyed a cordial relationship with Ashley in the past, was spotted several times at St James’s Park at the start of last week.

Moat is one of United’s best corporate customers and renewed his plush executive box last year for a five-year period, with funds then pumped back into the club’s Academy.

However, while Ashley’s PR firm could only utter a “no comment” statement today, a source said: “I would guide people well away from the link with Dubai International Capital.

“The reality is there is nothing there on that.

“The club is still up for sale and the asking price is £100m.

“To ask how long it will take is almost an impossible question to answer.

“It could go through in due course – or it could take six months.”

The sale of the Magpies has now dragged into its fourth month, and it was at this stage that Ashley took the club off the market in December last year after Seymour Pierce failed to sell the club the first time it was put on the market for the then asking price of £400m.

That was then slashed to £250m at the start of December before Ashley came back for a second bite of the cherry.

Seymour Pierce’s Keith Harris is also now back from holiday and will get on with the job of trying to find new investors worldwide after two hapless attempts so far over a period spanning eight months.